The invention provides novel compositions, methods and uses, for the prediction, diagnosis, prognosis, prevention and treatment of malignant neoplasia and cancer. The invention further relates to genes that are differentially expressed in tissue of cancer patients versus those of normal "healthy" tissue. Differentially expressed genes for the identification of patients which are likely to respond to chemotherapy are also provided. The present invention relates to methods for prognosis the prediction of therapeutic success in cancer therapy. In a preferred embodiment of the invention it relates to methods for prediction of therapeutic success of combinations of signal transduction inhibitors, therapeutic antibodies, radio- and chemotherapy. The methods of the invention are based on determination of expression levels of 48 human genes which are differentially expressed prior to the onset of anti-cancer chemotherapy. The methods and compositions of the invention are most useful in the investigation of advanced colorectal cancer, but are useful in the investigation of other types of cancer and therapies as well.